Extreme Kaokoland

Flight

Fly overnight to Namibia via Johannesburg or directly via Frankfurt.

Windhoek - Otjiwarongo

Your safari starts at the airport where your guide will meet you.

We depart from Windhoek towards the north in the direction of Okahandja. If time permits we will stop at the large open Craft Market here, which boasts crafts from all over southern Africa, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.

You will enjoy lunch on the road before arriving at the lodge where we will overnight. Dinner at the lodge.

[Out of Africa Lodge or similar | L D]

Otjiwarongo – Etosha National Park

We continue northwards into the Etosha National Park, arriving at the lodge in time for lunch.

The Etosha National Park spans an area of 22 270 square km, a large part of which is taken up by a vast salt pan. This beautiful barren and often haunting landscape is surprisingly abundant in game, which often congregate around the various waterholes scattered around the park, allowing for some spectacular game viewing. The park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, including several threatened and endangered species such as the black rhinocerous. Visitors can expect to see many buck species, elephants, giraffe, rhino and lions. If you are lucky you will see leopard and cheetah. After good rains, the salt pan fills with water attracting a mass of flamingos. More than 340 bird species have been counted in the park.

In the afternoon, we go out on our first game drive where we will experience Africa's wildlife up close. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

[Mushara Bush Camp or similar | BLD]

Etosha National Park

Today will be a full day of safari game viewing allowing plenty of opportunities for good sightings and spectacular photographs. After breakfast at the lodge, we go out on our morning game drive. We will enjoy lunch in the park/lodge and then return to our game drive in the afternoon.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

[Mushara Bush Camp or similar | BLD]

Etosha National Park

Today we travel through the park and into its southern regions. We will spend the whole day on safari. We enjoy lunch at one of the resort camps inside the park and will have dinner and spend the night at the Okaukuejo Lodge.

[Okaukuejo or similar | BLD]

Etosha – Opuwo

After breakfast at the lodge our journey takes us through the formerly restricted western side of the park. We have a packed lunch on our journey and exit at the Galton gate before heading to Opuwo, capital of the great Kunene. The name Opuwo means ‘enough / finish’ and is home to a varied population ranging from the Ovahima to the Ovazemba, Ovambo and Ovaherero tribes. We arrive in the late afternoon.

[Opuwo Country Lodge| BLD]

Opuwo – Epupa Falls

After breakfast, we travel up through Kaokoland, home of Epupa Falls and the Ovahimba people. On arrival, we check in at the lodge.
The area is known for its beautiful and largely unspoiled environment. The Falls lie on the Kunene River which borders Angola. The river is 0.5 km wide and drops in a series of waterfalls over a space of 1.5km with the greatest single drop being 37 meters. The riverbed is lined with makalani palms, fig and baobab trees creating an enchanting paradise. About 240 Namibian bird species have been recorded in the area including the African Fish eagle, Bee-eaters, African Paradise-Flycatcher and the Malachite Kingfisher.
After visiting the falls we return to the lodge for dinner.

[Epupa Falls Camp| BLD]

Epupa Falls

We have breakfast at the lodge and depart for a visit to the Ovahimba tribe in their Village. We will be accompanied by a translator.
This ancient tribe of semi-nomadic herders has managed to survive and keep its traditions despite the harsh desert environment in which it lives. The Ovahimba wear few clothes apart from a loin cloth or goat skinned mini skirts. The women are reknowned for the red ochre and fat (otjize) which they rub over their bodies to protect themselves from the sun, and which gives their skin a rich red colour. They are also known for their jewellery and intricate hairstyles. You will learn about their culture and daily activities. This is your opportunity to talk to them and ask them questions about their marriage rituals and many other ceremonies.
We have lunch back at the lodge.
In the afternoon we go on an excursion along the river. There is a chance of coming across some of the many crocodiles which lounge along its banks.
We have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.

[Epupa Falls Camp| BLD]

Epupa Falls – Damaraland

Today we depart in the direction of Opuwo, stopping over and then continuing down to Khowarib Lodge / Palmwag, where we enjoy a guided walk along the nearby riverbed.
We will have dinner and overnight here.

[Palmwag Lodge| BLD]

Damaraland – Twyfelfontein

After breakfast at the lodge we continue our journey through the striking landscapes of Damaraland, enjoying lunch on the road or at a restaurant.
We arrive at our lodge towards the end of the afternoon.

[Twyfelfontein Country Lodge or similar | BLD]

Twyfelfontein – Swakopmund

After breakfast we visit the celebrated rock engravings of Twyfelfontein.
Twyfelfontein is the site of one of the largest concentrations of rock petroglyphs (engravings) and rock paintings in Africa. It consists of a spring in a valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone mountain. The rock art forms an extensive record of ritual practices relating to hunter-gatherer communities in this part of southern Africa over at least 2 millenia. UNESCO approved it as Namibia's first World Heritage Site in 2007.
Back on the road again, we meet up with some of the locals. We pass by Namibia's highest mountain (Brandberg), which reaches about 2573 metres above sea level.
Lunch will be enjoyed along the road, at a restaurant or at Uis, before continuing our journey to the coast. We have dinner at one of Swakopmund's many fine restaurants. We will overnight at a hotel / guesthouse.

[Prost Hotel or similar | BLD]

Swakopmund

After breakfast, we will depart on a boat cruise which includes a wonderful brunch (no lunch). Enjoy a variety of seafood, soft drinks and sparkling wine.

In the afternoon, you are free to try out some of the many activities Swakopmund has to offer (own account). These include:

• Scenic flights over the Namib dunes and Atlantic ocean in a small Cessna 210 aircraft of 5 passengers.
• Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Drives on the Namib dunes with a very well experienced off-road driver including champagne and a lovely brunch with a selection of seafood.
• Quad bike rides in the dunes boasting lovely views of both the sea to the west and the plains on the east.
• Shopping and exploring the historical German buildings in town.
• Sand boarding in the dunes.
• Desert Living Adventure in the dunes looking for small reptiles such as snakes, geckos, lizards and scorpions.

Dinner will be at one of Swakopmund's many fine restaurants.

[Prost Hotel or similar | BLD]

Swakopmund – Sossusvlei

We depart for Sossusvlei, travelling south. Lunch will be enjoyed on the road or at a restaurant. The journey takes us through beautiful, scenic landscapes. We pass by the Kuiseb Canyon and across the Tropic of Capricorn. We may spot wildlife, including mountain zebra, springbok, ostrich and even suricate.

We arrive at our lodge during the late afternoon.

[Namib Desert Lodge or similar| BLD]

Sossusvlei

We set out early after breakfast to visit Sossusvlei. The area is best known for its spectacular red dunes, some of which are considered the highest in the world, reaching 300m. Sossusvlei itself is a large, white, salt and clay pan located in the midst of this ancient, red wilderness and provides wonderful photographic opportunities. Occasionally the pan fills up with water offering a fantastic spectacle as the glassy lake reflects the surrounding dunes.

Despite the harsh desert conditions in the area, one can find a wide variety of plants and animals here which have adapted to survive.

Lunch will be enjoyed at the lodge before setting off again to Sesriem Canyon. The canyon has been shaped over millions of years by the Tsauchab river and is one of the few places in the area that holds water all year round. It is up to 30 metres deep at points and about 1km long with a width of between 1 and 3 metres. The canyon is a fun and interesting place to visit. We will walk through its narrow passageway viewing the different rock formations and exposed layers along the way.

We return to the lodge in the afternoon.

[Namib Desert Lodge or similar | BLD]

Windhoek

After enjoying breakfast at the lodge, we depart back to Windhoek via the great escarpment mountain range and then over the Khomas Hochland. Lunch will be enjoyed on the road or in a restaurant. On our arrival, we book you into your hotel for the night, if you are still spending a night in Windhoek.

[Avani Hotel/Kalahari Sands Hotel or similar | BL]

Windhoek – Home

After breakfast, you depart for the airport for your international flight back home. We wish you a safe return back home and we strongly believe that you enjoyed your time with Omuhimba safaris!

[B]